Exhaust operated cleaning device



y 1961 G. D. MCOUAT EXHAUST OPERATED CLEANING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1958 Eff nven For Geo/pubic 0110/ PA TENT/IrraR/Ym Unite States Patent EXHAUST OPERATED CLEANING DEVICE George D. McOuat, Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada Filed Aug. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 753,018

6 Claims. (Cl. 239-i129) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in exhaust operated cleaner devices, the principal object and essence of my invention being to provide a device of the character herewithin described which utilizes the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine and provides a cleaning device for cleaning the engine of tractor, combine or farm implements or machines such as caterpillar tractor, or the like.

It is Well known that it is difficult to clean radiators, engines and the like for repair work particularly when the machine or device is being used in the bush or other areas remote from repair shops. It is also well known that it is desirable to keep these components clean in order to obtain the maximum efliciency from the im plement and clean them before painting. I have overcome these disadvantages by providing a cleaning attachment which can be operated by the exhaust of the engine of the implement or device and in which the tempera.- ture of the exhaust gases passing out through the blast nozzle can be controlled if desired.

Furthermore, if desired, a detergent can be intermixed with the exhaust gases or, alternatively, with slight modifications fine sand can be introduced therein thus providing a sand-blasting device.

The device is particularly useful for removing grease, etc., from engines, implements or the like, and the temperature of the exhaust gases is normally suflicient for this purpose although if a detergent is mixed with the exhaust gases then the efficiency is considerably greater.

A further object of my invention is, therefore, to provide a device of the character herewithin described which can be attached readily to any exhaust muflier and which can be utilized to clean grease, mud or dirt oil the engines or tractors.

A further object of my invention is to provide a de vice of the character herewithin described in which detergents can be mixed with the exhaust gases or, alternatively, fine sand can be mixed therewith thus providing a cleaning device of great versatility readily usable in the field and not requiring a separate source of heat and air pressure as heretofore.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device sectioned in part to show the interior thereof.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the discharge end of my device.

Figure 3 is a section along 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation showing one method of attaching the device to the discharge end of a muffler.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view Patented May 16, 1961 showing an alternative method of attaching my device to the outlet of a muffler.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the valve portion of Figure 1.

Proceeding now to describe my invention in detail, it will be seen upon reference to the accompanying drawings that I have provided a flexible tube 1 adapted to be connected by one end thereof to a muflier outlet 2 by means hereinafter to be described.

The other end 3 of the flexible tube is attachable by means of an expansion clamp 4 to one end 5 of a tubular elbow member 6. The other end of elbow member 6 is adapted to be detachably connected by means of a clamp 7 to a heat exchange unit generally designated 8. The heat exchange unit 8 comprises a hollow jacket or casing 9 having an angulated front portion 10 and a central or blast tube 11 which is mounted concentrically within casing 9 and extends longitudinally thereof. The rear end of blast tube 11 projects into elbow member 6 and the foremost end of tube 11 tapers to a reduced diameter.

A fluid supply tube assembly collectively designated 12 and consisting of a hollow tubular handle 13 is secured to the heat exchanger 8 as at 14, it being noted that the handle 13 joins the heat exchange unit 8 at an angle and extends rearwardly therefrom terminating in a hand grip 15. The handle 13 is provided with a cross bar 16 which is secured transversely across the handle 13 and extends outwardly therefrom at right angles upon each side thereof to provide hand grips for use by an operator when manipulating the cleaning device.

Within the hollow handle 13 I provide a fluid supply tube 17, said fluid supply tube extending longitudinally and concentrically within said handle.

The forward end of fluid supply tube 17 passes through the wall of casing 9 to communicate at 14 with the annular space 13a between casing 9 and the blast tube 4, whereby fluid leaving tube 17 is directed through the annular space 13a to a discharge end assembly generally designated 18. The other end of fluid supply tube 17 extends rearwardly from the hand grip 15 and is connected by means of a length of flexible tubing 19 having a filter 20 coupled at one end thereof to a reservoir 21 containing a supply of a suitable cleaning fluid 22.

The suction tube 17 is provided with a branch passageway 49 communicating with the atmosphere through an aperture 49a formed in the outer surface of tube 13, thus providing an air inlet for the suction tube. The passageway 49 is adapted to be sealed off by valve means consisting of a leaf spring 50 secured at one end 50a to the outer surface of tube 13 and having a press button 48 secured to its other end. A seal member 48a is secured to the underside of press button 48 and is normally biased by the spring 50 to a position away from aperture 49a. By exerting a downward pressure on press button 48, spring 50 is depressed thereby bringing seal member 48a into register with aperture 4% thereby to seal the suction tube 17 against entry of air through the passageway 49.

The discharge end assembly 18 is connected to the front angulated portion 10 of casing 9 and reference to Figure 2 will show my preferred construction for this discharge end assembly which is detachable and which includes an outer tube 23 formed in two sections 24 and 25 which are detachably interconnectable by means of a clamp 23a. The lower section 25 of outer tube 23 forms a cylindrical discharge nozzle having a venturi restriction 25a formed adjacent the inner end thereof. An inner tube 26 is mounted concentrically within outer tube 23 and extends longitudinally thereof and terminates in a nozzle 26a situated adjacent the venturi restriction 25a whereby passage of exhaust gases through the outer tube 23 creates a suction at the nozzle 26a. The inner tube 26 is mounted co-axially within outer tube 23 by means of a spider 27 which spans the inner end of outer tube 23. The upper end of inner tube 26 communicates with the annular passage 13a formed between casing 9 and blast tube 11 whereby fluid leaving the heat exchange unit 8 is diverted through said inner tube 26.

Figure 4 shows one method of attaching the device to a muffler outlet 2 and consists of a cylindrical cap 27 which is adapted to slip over the end of the muflier outlet 2 and be held thereon by clamp. A curved tube or pipe 28 extends from the other end of the cap 27 and to this curved tube is secured the aforementioned other end 3' of the flexible tube 1.

Figure shows an alternative embodiment for attaching the device to muffler outlets of varying diameters and consists of a hollow cone 29 adapted to engage the end of the outlet 2 and having means collectively designated 30 to clamp same firmly into position. A relatively short tube 31 is secured to the apex 32 of the cone and within this tube is bearably supported for longitudinal movement, a further tube 33, the upper end 34 of which is screw-threaded and engaged by a clamping screw 35 externally of apex 32 so that rotation of the clamping screw 35 will raise or lower the tube 33 within the cone. This tube extends below the perimeter 36 of the cone into the muffler outlet 2 and carries a pair of bracket supports 36 upon the lower end thereof. These bracket supports are spanned by pins 37 and within these brackets and between the pins 37 are mounted a pair of tapered dogs 38.

The lower end 39 of the dogs are pivotally supported as at 40 to a cross member 41 secured to the lower end 42 of a rod or shaft 43 which in turn is bearably supported for longitudinal movement within the aforementioned tube 33 and which furthermore extends beyond the apex 32 of the cone.

The upper end of this rod is screw-threaded at 43a and engageable by a further clamping screw 44 so that by manipulating the clamping screws 44 and 35, the dogs are forced outwardly into engagement with the inner walls 45 of the muffler outlet 2 thus drawing the cone down firmly upon the end of the muffler outlet.

A tube 46 extends from the apex 32 to which the aforementioned end 3' of the flexible tube 1 may be secured by means of clamp 47.

When adapting this device for sand blasting, a sand intake tube 51 is attached to and is in communication with the inner tube 26 adjacent to its junction with the front portion of casing 9 and also with the fluid supply tube 17. The threaded opening of this sand tube is capped with a screw plug 52 into which the sand may be introduced.

In operation, the flexible tube 1 is coupled to the exhaust outlet 2 of a suitable internal combustion engine and the flexible tubing 19 is connected to the cleaning fluid reservoir 21. The engine is then started, whereupon the hot exhaust gases flow through tubing 1 into the heat exchange unit 8 and through the outer tube 23 of discharge end assembly 18. The hot gases in passing through the outer tube 23 create a low pressure area at the venturi restriction 25a which is elfective to create a suction within inner tube 26. The throttle of the engine is then gradually opened until this section is suflicient to draw the cleaning fluid from the reservoir 21 through the heat exchange unit 8 and inner tube 26. Cleaning fluid is then discharged with the exhaust gases through the outlet end of outer tube 23 and directed on the surface to be cleaned. In its passage through the heat exchange unit 8, the cleaning fluid is heated by the hot exhaust gases which flow through the blast tube 11. This preheating of the cleaning fluid increases the eflicacy of the cleaning action. Furthermore, since the hot exhaust gases are discharged with the cleaning fluid through the discharge end of outer tube 23, they are effective to raise the temperature of the surface to be cleaned thereby further improving and expediting the cleaning action of this device.

Since various modifications can be made in my in vention as hereinabove described, and many apparently Widely dilferent embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An engine exhaust operated cleaning device comprising a heat exchange unit, said heat exchange unit including a jacket, and a blast tube mounted concentrically in said jacket and extending longitudinally thereof; a hollow elongated handle connected to said heat exchange unit adjacent one end thereof and extending rearwardly therefrom; a fluid supply tube mounted concentrically in said handle and extending longitudinally thereof, one end of said fluid supply tube communicating with said jacket adjacent the inlet end thereof; flexible conduit means connecting the other end of said fluid supply tube to a supply of cleaning fluid; further flexible conduit means connecting the inlet end of said blast tube to the exhaust outlet of said engine; and a discharge end assembly comprising an outer tube having a venturi restriction formed therein and an inner tube extending longitudinally and concentrically within said'outer tube and terminating in a nozzle adjacent said venturi restriction, said discharge end assembly being coupled to the outlet of said heat exchange unit, the exhaust gases leaving said heat exchange unit being directed through said outer tube and adapted in their passage through said restriction to create a low pressure effective to draw cleaning fluid from said fluid supply through said fluid supply tube, said heat exchange unit and said inner tube,

said cleaning fluid in its passage through said heat exchange unit being heated by the exhaust gases and being discharged with the exhaust gases through the discharge end of said outer tube.

2. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 in which one end of said further flexible conduit means is connected to the inlet end of said blast tube and the other end of said further flexible conduit means is connected by coupling means to said exhaust outlet, said coupling means comprising a cone adapted to engage said exhaust outlet, a hollow tube secured to and extending inwardly from the apex of said cone, a further hollow tube slidably engaging said first-mentioned hollow tube and extending externally of said apex and also into said exhaust outlet, the outer end of said second-mentioned hollow tube being screw threaded, a screw-threaded shaft extending downwardly through said second mentioned tube and slidable therein, screw threaded clamp means on the outer end of said screw threaded shafts, further screw threaded clamp means on the outer end of said second mentioned tube, a cross bar secured to the inner end of said shaft, a plurality of wall engaging dogs pivotally secured by one end thereof to said cross member and pivotally secured medially along the length thereof to supports extending from the inner end of said second mentioned hollow tube adapted to engage the inner walls of said exhaust outlet, said clamp means adapted to move said second mentioned tube and said shaft lengthwise with relation one to the other thereby actuating said dogs.

3. An engine exhaust operated cleaning device comprising a heating jacket, a blast tube extending concentrically and longitudinally within said jacket, a tubular handle member connected to and extending rearwardly from said jacket adjacent one end thereof, a fiuid supply tube extending longitudinally and concentrically "within said handle, flexible conduit means connecting one end of said fluid supply tube to a supply of cleaning fluid, the other end of said fluid supply tube communicating with the annular passage between said jacket and said blast tube, funther flexible conduit means connecting one end of said blast tube to the exhaust outlet of said engine for flow of exhaust gases through said blast tube, and a discharge end assembly coupled to the other end of said jacket, said discharge end assembly including an outer tube communicating at one end with said blast tube and provided with a venturi restriction intermediate the ends thereof, and an inner tube concentric with said outer tube and communicating at one end with said annular passage and having a nozzle connected to the other end thereof adjacent said restriction, the exhaust gases in their passage through the outer tube from said exhaust outlet creating a low pressure at said restriction effective to draw cleaning fluid from said supply through said fluid supply tube, said jacket and said inner tube, said cleaning fluid in its passage through said jacket being heated by the exhaust gases flowing through said blast tube and being discharged with the exhaust gases through the discharge end of said outer tube.

4. An engine exhaust operated cleaning device com.- prising a heat exchange unit having a pair of concentrically mounted tubes; an elongated tubular handle connected to said heat exchange unit adjacent the inlet end thereof and extending rearwardly therefrom; a fluid supply tube concentrically mounted within said handle and extending longitudinally thereof, said fluid supply tube communicating at one end with one of the tubes of said heat exchange unit whereby fluid leaving said fluid supply tube is directed into said one tube; flexible conduit means connecting the other end of said fluid supply tube to a supply of cleaning fluid; further flexible conduit means connecting the inlet end of the other tube of said heat exchange unit to the exhaust outlet of said engine whereby exhaust gases are directed through said other tube; and a discharge end assembly, said discharge end assembly comprising an outer tube having a venturi restriction formed therein and an inner tube extending longitudinally and concentrically within said outer tube and terminating in a nozzle adjacent said venturi restriction, said discharge end assembly coupled to the outlet end of said heat exchange unit whereby the exhaust gases after passage through said unit are directed through said outer tube, the low pressure created at said restriction by the passage exhaust gases therethrough being eflective to draw cleaning fluid from said supply through said fluid supply tube, said one tube of the heat exchange unit and said inner tube, said cleaning fluid in its passage through the heat exchange unit being heated by the exhaust gases and being discharged with the exhaust gases through the discharge end of said outer tube.

5. An engine exhaust operated cleaning device comprising an elongated heat exchange unit including an outer tubular casing and a tube mounted concentrically therein and extending longitudinally thereof, a hollow elongated handle extending rearwardly from said casing, a fluid supply tube extending longitudinally and concentrically within said handle, flexible conduit means connecting one end of said fluid supply tube to a supply of cleaning fluid, the other end of said fluid supply tube communicating with said heat exchange unit adjacent one end thereof, further flexible conduit means connecting the inlet end of said heat exchange unit to the exhaust outlet of said engine and a discharge end assembly comprising an outer tube having a venturi restriction formed therein and an inner tube extending longitudinally and concentrically within said outer tube and terminating in a nozzle adjacent said venturi restriction, said discharge end assembly coupled to the outlet end of said heat exchange unit whereby the exhaust gases after passage through said heat exchange unit are directed through said outer tube, the

low pressure created at said restriction upon passage of said exhaust gases through said outer tube being effective to draw cleaning fluid from siid fluid supply through said fluid supply tube, said heat exchange unit and said inner tube, said cleaning fluid in its passage through said heat exchange unit being heated by the exhaust gases and being discharged with the exhaust gases through the discharge end of said outer tube.

6. An engine exhaust operated cleaning device comprising a heat exchange unit, said heat exchange unit including a jacket, and a blast tube mounted concentrically in said jacket and extending longitudinally thereof; a hollow elongated handle connected to said heat exchange unit adjacent one end thereof and extending rearwardly therefrom; a cross-bar secured to said handle intermediate the ends thereof and extending outwardly from each side thereof; a fluid supply tube mounted concentrically in said handle and extending longitudinally thereof, one end of said fluid supply tube communicating with said jacket adjacent the inlet end thereof; flexible conduit means connecting the other end of said fluid supply tube to a supply of cleaning tfluid located remotely from the clean ing device; valve means associated with said fluid supply tube and adapted to control the admission of air into said fluid supply tube thereby to control the flow of cleaning fluid therethrough; further flexible conduit means connecting the inlet end of said blast tube to the exhaust outlet of said engine; and a discharge end assembly comprising an outer tube having a venturi restriction formed therein and an inner tube extending longitudinally and concentrically within said outer tube and terminating in a nozzle adjacent said venturi restriction, said discharge end assembly being coupled to the outlet of said heat exchange unit, the exhaust gases leaving said heat exchange unit being directed through said outer tube and adapted in their passage through said restriction to create a low pressure eflective to draw cleaning fluid from said fluid supply through said fluid supply tube, said heat exchange unit and said inner tube, said cleaning fluid in its passage through said heat exchange unit being heated by the exhaust gases and being discharged with the exhaust gases through the discharge end of said outer tube.

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